Adventist HealthCare’s two main hospitals have each received two awards from the American Heart Association and American Stroke Association for life-saving, high-quality stroke care. These awards come during National Stroke Month, which raises awareness about the signs and symptoms of stroke.

The first award, Gold Plus Quality Achievement, recognizes each hospital’s adherence to Get With The Guidelines-Stroke, a hospital program from the American Heart/American Stroke Associations that focuses on improving stroke care through consistent use of the latest scientific treatment guidelines. To receive this award, Adventist HealthCare Shady Grove Medical Center and Adventist HealthCare Washington Adventist Hospital, both located in Montgomery County, Maryland, achieved 85 percent or higher compliance with the program’s standards for two or more consecutive 12-month periods.

“Washington Adventist Hospital is consistently recognized for providing fast, efficient and coordinated stroke care, which speaks to our caregivers ongoing dedication to helping save lives and prevent serious brain damage for patients experiencing stroke, when even minutes can make a difference,” says Daisy Bui, MD, a neurologist and medical director of the Stroke Program.

The second award, Target: Stroke Honor Roll Elite Plus, recognizes the hospitals for maintaining a short time period between a patient’s arrival at the hospital and treatment with clot-dissolving medication, as designated by quality guidelines. Providing the medication within the first three hours after stroke symptoms begin has been shown to significantly reduce the effects of stroke and lessen the chance of permanent disability.

“Shady Grove Medical Center has achieved top honors from the American Stroke Association for stroke care for the past five years,” says Perry Smith, MD, neurologist and medical director of the Stroke Program. “This continued recognition demonstrates our multidisciplinary stroke team’s commitment to providing quick and comprehensive care for our stroke patients.”

Since 2011, each hospital earned designation as a Primary Stroke Center from the Maryland Institute for Emergency Medical Services. To hold the designation, both Shady Grove and Washington Adventist have established a rapid and coordinated team approach to stroke care, and met requirements relating to timeliness of care and community education about stroke.

Especially during National Stroke Month, the association reminds the public to remember FAST, an acronym to recognize and act quickly in response to stroke symptoms: Face drooping, Arm weakness, Speech difficulty means it’s Time to call 911.

According to the American Stroke Association, 80 percent of strokes can be prevented.

Though some stroke risk factors like age and race are uncontrollable, other risk factors like diet and exercise are in your control and making small lifestyle changes can reduce your stroke risk.